National qualifications frameworks make a difference

National qualifications frameworks (NQFs) make a difference to people's lives but more research is needed to measure their impact, according to some of the conclusions of the peer learning conference organised by Cedefop, the European Commission and Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) in Thessaloniki on 9 and 10 November.

Welcoming participants, Cedefop Director James Calleja highlighted the rapid increase of NQFs worldwide (now over 150): ‘During the last decade we have witnessed a remarkable growth in the number of qualifications frameworks; for some this indicates a policy learning process promising to improve transparency and communication while for others it signals a potentially negative policy copying.’

Mr Calleja argued that qualifications frameworks play an important role in the modernisation of vocational education and training (VET) and increase its standing. But, he added, they still have a long way to go to fulfil their potential. However, employers and training institutions work better with NQFs because they speak the same language.

Cedefop Head of Department for VET Systems and Institutions Loukas Zahilas also talked about the NQFs' ability to make a difference to end users, but added that ‘the combination of countries with long experience and newcomers makes things interesting and complicated.’

European Commission’s Koen Nomden said that the concept of a peer learning conference was introduced for the first time. He also stated that 39 countries participate in the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), i.e. all 28 EU Member States and 11 non-EU countries.

Country experiences

Cedefop expert Slava Pevec Grm presented the European experience based on the agency's evidence. She stressed that countries have followed the EQF's overarching character and moved towards comprehensive frameworks encompassing VET, higher education and general education.

QQI’s John O'Connor described the Irish experience, saying that 'while the effects of NQFs are not well understood, they are likely to be indirect and diffuse, sometimes positive but also potentially insignificant or even harmful.'

South African Qualifications Authority CEO Joe Samuels presented his country’s qualifications framework. He said that ‘NQF stands for no quick fix and is a contested, living object; in South Africa, where there was racial discrimination in the past, it has been used as a tool of reform and has made a difference.’

Working group sessions on the first day approached the conference theme from policy-maker and research perspectives.

The closing panel sought answers to three questions posed by Mr Zahilas: Why do we need NQFs and the EQF? Which are the basic ingredients for success? How can we evaluate impact?

Participants agreed that NQFs can be a key tool for supporting lifelong learning and recognition of learning outside the formal system.

Need for more research

Summing up the conference conclusions, Cedefop expert Jens Bjornavold listed the positives and the negatives.

On the positive side: NQFs have an influence on cross-sectoral cooperation, have benefitted VET, have strengthened the learning outcomes approach and are a link to validation.

As for the negatives: few NQFs reach individual citizens, in some cases learning outcomes are only implemented 'on paper', and the approach can't be taken for granted.

Mr Bjornavold stressed the importance of carrying out a literature review to evaluate NQF impact.

On the Commission side, Mr Nomden agreed that there is little research on the impact NQFs have and measuring it is challenging. He asserted that the EQF has been a successful tool.

In her closing remarks, Cedefop Deputy Director Mara Brugia said that the NQFs are important tools to help make VET more visible and guide learners through what seems to be an increasingly complex lifelong learning process. She added: ‘There is an urgent need to develop and implement new education and training maps that speak directly to learners and employees, but also to employers and education and training providers.’

Qualifications frameworks are not the solution to everything, but, seen from the VET perspective, they do make a difference, concluded Ms Brugia.